04-06-2005, 10:00 PM
Quote:JU 020 000 200 4 11 0
FSU 012 044 00X 11 15 0
W - Sauls (4-0) L - Laughter (0-2)
Seminoles show some power in win over JU
by Drew Hankin
The Florida State Seminoles made easy work of the Jacksonville Dolphins on Wednesday night, in an 11-4 win over the cross-state foe. The Seminole batters cranked out eight extra base hits, including three homeruns one one inning. The last time an FSU team had three in one inning was 2003.
Ryne Malone, who played left field in the game, and second baseman Tony Thomas Jr led the hitting barrage with three hits each. Center fielder Shane Robinson bounced back from his first hitless game since 2004 with a single and a double, while third baseman Bryan Henry had three RBIs.
Backup catcher Danny Diaz hurt his shoulder during an at bat in the sixth inning, pinch hitting for Aaron Cheesman. With both catchers out of the game, freshman Ruairi O'Connor was called upon, and finished the game behind the plate.
Mark Sauls (3-0) started the game for FSU, and picked up the win going six complete innings. Despite having a rough second inning, he bounced back and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. Sauls gave up two runs on six hits while walking one batter and striking out three. Brian Chambers gave up a couple of runs in relief, but Matt DiBlasi and Tyler Chambliss each threw one scoreless inning.
After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning, FSU cut the Dolphin lead in half during the bottom of the inning, when Thomas singled up the middle with two outs, moved to second on a base hit by shortstop Ryne Jernigan, and scored a single to right by Henry.
An inning later, the Noles tied the game and took the lead for good when
Malone doubled to right, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Brant Peacher. Thomas put Florida State ahead later in
the inning with a single that scored Cheesman, and made it a 3-2 game.
After a scoreless fourth inning, FSU went back to work and powered out four runs in the fifth, when Thomas and Henry both homered to left, Peacher doubled, and then scored when Malone hit one over the screen in right.
Florida State picked up four more runs in the next frame which began when Peacher doubled and scored on a double by first baseman Danny Wardell. Thomas and Jernigan then walked to load the bases, before a walk to Henry forced in a run. Robinson then singled to right to score Thomas, and O'Connor's sacrifice fly brought home Jernigan and gave the Noles an 11-2 lead.
FSU improved to 30-7 on the season, while JU fell to 16-17. The Noles have now beaten Jacksonville 31 of the last 32 times they've played.
The Tribe has a day off before hosting the Wake Forest Demon Deacons this weekend in a three-game ACC series. Game times are 7:00 pm on both Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 on Sunday.
Section B Online Co-Players of the Game:
Tony Thomas Jr (3-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR, BB)
and
Ryne Malone (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B, HR)
